Katonah Art Center is in the same building as the Arts Caravan Performing Arts Studio that was covered in my last blog post titled ”After School Activities Part 1” at 131 Bedford Road in Katonah.

Katonah Art Center
As a Realtor I enjoy sharing the wonderful experiences I had with my children in their after school activities.

I have to admit that although I do not have personal experience with the Arts Center, I had heard rave reviews about it over the years . There is just so much a daughter and mother can do! She has friends that have taken classes there for years and now have worked as TA’s - Teacher’s Assistants! This is also an incredible institution in our area.

Loren Anderson, the Founder, started in our area 15 years ago. She has her BFA in Fine Arts from Syracuse University.

Their enrollment is half children and half adults - every day and every weekend! It can all begin with “Mommy & Me Classes” in Art & Music and go on from there.

Year Round classes include: Film & Music, Acting/Comedy, Photography/Darkroom, Clay (including Claymation!), Fine Art, Sculpture, Drawing: including Cartooning, Juggling, Illustration & Fashion Illustration, Painting, Digital Art, Sewing, Jewelry, Web Design, Pixel Art, Animation & Pottery

They have School Holiday & Winter Break Camps and Summer Vacation Camps. They even cover Birthday Parties - a real plus since I personally preferred just hauling the presents home - plus the Thank You notes of course! They have several themed parties that they will plan and run for you. They have people that will address the invitations, arrange for the food and fill the goodie bags! Why had they not been there for me?!

Summer Camp is comprised of 1 week sessions. Both a.m. and p.m. sessions are offered. Good News: The Summer Camps run from the end of the school year - May 31 for the 3 1/2 to 5 yr olds and June 28th for the older students though September 3rd!

For 3 1/2 - 5 yr olds: Art & Imagination Camp - Topics include : Jungle Safari, Castles & Dragons, A Bug’s Life, Tropical Treasures, Snugglebunnies, Dinosaurs & More, In a Little Garden, and Infinity & Beyond

For Grades 1-5: Kids Art Camp - Topics include : Sculpture. Jewelry Making, Candle Making, Nature Journals, Famous Artists, Repurposed Art, Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, World Crafts, Cartooning

For Teens: Grade 6 & Up - Fashion Illustration, Jewelry Making, Guitar, Drawing & Painting, Silkscreen/Batik & Outdoor Painting

Pottery & Photography is offered for all ages.

There are so many wonderful courses within each discipline that you really must call for a catalog or go online! I am signing up for one!

Visit the Katonah Art Center website at www.katonahartcenter.com or call 914-232-4843.

If you have any additional questions or interests in other after school activities feel free to contact me at KBenvinRansom@HoulihanLawrence.com.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Ever since I ran the Leatherman’s Loop race in 2007, I’ve been curious about legend. When I learned there was a lecture on “The Old Leatherman” at the South Salem Library, January 31st, by author Dan Deluca, I knew I had to be there. Dan Deluca is a genealogist and Connecticut historian who has been researching the Old Leatherman for 22 years. He recently published a book documenting his discoveries and he spoke about his experiences in collecting information and details about the legendary “Old Leatherman.” It was fascinating!

I loved hearing details about the legend and the person they call the Old Leatherman. The account of his mysterious life has been pieced together through news clippings and stories passed down from generation to generation. One of the most interesting facts about the Leatherman is that in 1883 he started walking a 365-mile loop between Connecticut and the Hudson River and repeated it every 34 days like clockwork. He was seen in at least 41 towns and would sleep in caves and would only accept food from certain people in town. He never spoke, just uttered a few grunts and used gestures to communicate. He always wore his coat, pants, hat, and shoes all made of leather from discarded boots.

The book documents what is known about his life through several photographs, newspaper articles written about him, piecing together the legend and mystery surrounding this man dressed in leather. New information about The Old Leatherman continues to surface and so the mystery continues to grow and live on. The question I had for the author on a very cold January afternoon, (19 degrees and snow on the ground) was, what do you think the Old Leatherman would do on a day like today? His answer, “walk.”

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

In 1947 the construction of The Bedford Playhouse in Bedford Village, N.Y. was monumental in many ways. It was considered to be a new country style “shopping center.” Still today it is home to several shops and businesses. It also has a floor above it full of apartments which was seen as a boon to the returning Vets from World War II. Of course those of us that have enjoyed it over the years know it is a far cry from a shopping center in a strip mall! It currently is home to that favorite “The Meetinghouse” restaurant which at that time was “The Carousel” confectionary and lunch room. The beloved Stewart’s Market was a new tenant as well.

The editorial board of the local paper then reminded and fortified their readership that as Bedford Villagers they could withstand the onslaught of others from other districts encroaching on their village. It was planned and built by a local design company, a local investor and a Bedford construction company. To top it off, a mural which graced what is today’s snack bar wall was painted by a Bedford artist, Tom Johnson. I wonder if they were to tear out the snack bar if they would still find the mural. They brought in the talent of a company that excelled in incorporating the new technology of surround sound and distortion free projection. It had only one large screen with a stage. It was managed by a company that had opened a Playhouse in nearby Ridgefield, CT prior to their expansion into New York State.

It had an opening night of April 30th, 1947. It was an invitation only event. The first film was “Boomerang” - a “Factual Film” shot in Stamford CT, and the Court House of White Plains. Elia Kazan was the Director. It starred Lee J. Cobb, Dana Andrews and Jane Wyatt. It was a factual film in that it told of an actual murder and subsequent trial in nearby Bridgeport, CT.

The top ticket price was in the evening in the loge - where smoking was permitted due to “scientific air conditioning” - for the premium price of 80 cents - 25 cents more than the regular adult ticket price of 55 cents.

It is still a favorite of movie goers in the area. My parents used to come over from “The River Towns” to enjoy Bedford Village for dinner and a movie when I was young. The character and charm of the area still remain. Bedford Playhouse will be getting a make over during the next few weeks and I look forward to the rebirth!

If you would like to have more information that I have not included in this article, contact me @ KBenvinRansom@HoulihanLawrence.com.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

The Bedford Historical Society is actually located in “The Bedford Store” on Route 22 in Bedford, New York and faces the Village Green. I stopped in the other day after going to the library because I wanted to know when the courthouse was open. I was disappointed to learn the courthouse doesn’t open until April.

While I was there I enjoyed talking with the Executive Director of the Bedford Historical Society, Evelyne Ryan. We discovered our children graduated the same year from Fox Lane High School, and knew our paths had crossed but not connected until my visit. The current exhibit on display is very interesting; it is: Back to School. There are workbooks from children who attended school there in 1800 and old storybooks that date back to 1700. My favorite part of the exhibit is the collection of games children played that includes jacks, a wooden yo-yo, and a spelling board.

Since my husband has always been curious about the Village Green and wondered if anyone was ever hung there, I had to ask. The answer is no, and in fact the jail didn’t have many prisoners and court was only held three times a year.

The Historical Society has preserved and maintains 10 properties in the area, each with their own stories and roles they played during the early settlement. The efforts in preservation of these historic places are what give Bedford its Colonial charm and rich history. The Bedford Store is open to the public and has a small gift shop filled with Bedford memorabilia. How much do you think they sell penny candy for?

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Last week I gave my last tour of the current exhibit at The Katonah Museum of Art of the show: “Bold, Cautious, True: Walt Whitman and American Art of The Civil War Era.” I get sentimental at the end of each show since the Museum provides such an in-depth education on each subject through the time of the exhibit. The Galleries become a home away from home for me as I befriend the art work. Guess I have become a Museum Brat - being uprooted from one exhibit to another several times over the course of a year!

Yet, they always have something wonderful in store for us and I look forward to the educational lectures given in order to train us, the Docents. The next show is “The Art of Contemporary Puppet Theater” from Feb. 28th-June 13th 2010.

We have a wonderful break now in February with “Young Artists 2010” February 7-14th, 2010. The art is from High School Senior Art Classes from 34 schools in five counties. The work of over 300 students will be on display. How exciting is that! As a preview, the work I have featured with this article is by Julie Safferstein of Horace Greely High School in Chappaqua. It is wonderful for family and friends to celebrate the talents, efforts and vision of our students. It is also good for the community to enjoy the excellence of the Art Programs in our Schools.

In the Project Gallery will be a smaller exhibition from a program that the Katonah Museum did in conjunction with six local Elementary Schools “Thinking Through Art.”

I am proud to say that my daughter, Allison Ransom, will have a piece on display from her AP Art Class at John Jay High School under the tutelage of Julie Evans-Kaser. The work, “Affliction 2009,” has just returned from another high school showcase at Concordia College in Bronxville, where it won an award. It is the illustration to the right.

When you see what your children can create, you see them with new eyes. Once again, “Art Makes You See.”

For further information go to the Katonah Museum website KatonahMuseum.org.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

In my quest of Local History in our area, I have discovered The Bedford Hills Historical Museum.

I am often at the Town Hall checking property and tax information for my clients and had found it closed when I would be in the area. I then learned it is only open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 11am to 2pm.

I had seen an article on it when it first opened and thought it was just recently. I finally was in the area at the proscribed time and I met Katherine Nelligan. She is a Board member and is the dependable person that you will meet that puts out the banners and the flags when they are indeed open. Mrs. Nelligan was also secretary to 5 Town of Bedford Supervisors in the adjacent Bedford Town Hall.

I then learned that they had been open for 5 years! Let me tell you - no reason to take the kiddies to Williamsburg! Keep this in mind for school break and vacation times! There are multiple cases and displays that will keep you entranced - even as an adult, for quite some time.

For example, you will find a case dedicated to the dairies that were in the area. Did you know that the current Bedford Police Department Building was a dairy/milk processing plant?

There is a great deal of memorabilia and many documents about the earliest families i.e. Haines, Buxton, Harris and Burbank in the area after whom many of the roads were named. The photos are intriguing. I enjoyed the photos of the Bedford Hills District Nursing Association - DNA - the young Bedford Hills Blue Birds, and the corps of Volunteer Nurses during both World War I & II. The maps alone may take an afternoon. Of course there are the glam society shots as well.

There is evidence also of some of the large homes that were lost over the years. One was owned by Seth Low who was a former Mayor of New York City and President of Columbia University! He was one of the parties involved in changing the name from Bedford Station to Bedford Hills. Another major property was the Metcalfe Estate on what is still known as Lake Marie. Mrs. Metcalfe (Bessie Tyree) was a famous actress who married the theater critic for Life Magazine and they summered in Bedford Hills.

Upon my return I met another Board Member, Richard Schmitt. His family goes back 9 generations - over 400 years! Dingee Rd in South Salem is named after a branch of his family. His family members are buried in Buxton Cemetery and he piqued my interest in exploring that for a story!

They love to share their knowledge about the area and your delight in the large exhibit. Perhaps if they get busier they will expand their hours!

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Katonah is a very desirable town to live in because of its historic charm and close proximity to the Katonah Metro North Train. People who live in the City always take into consideration how far it is to the train, how long the train ride is to NYC, and the cost to park. I just listed a condominium at Wildwood and checked the box for “close to train” as an amenity. I began to wonder what the definition of “close” was and decided the only way to determine that was to find out for myself and provide more information. That’s when I decided to walk the walk and talk.

Here’s what I discovered…

Time to walk from the platform to Wildwood Condominiums was: 16.38 minutes, total number of steps: 2,163, distance by car: 0.7 mile

What I’d like to know is how far would you walk to the train?

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

I was doing my errands in Katonah one day and stopped into Kelloggs & Lawrence Hardware. Jeff Kellogg assisted me and we got talking about how long his family had run the business. The answer was over 120 years! Their store still has a wonderful old-fashioned feeling and they carry many high quality items for Country Living.

His Great Grandfather, Henry Kellogg, who had first been a customs agent in New York City had a hardware store and lumberyard in the original Katonah. When it was time to make room for the New York City Reservoir System and many of the buildings were to be moved to the new site, it was decided that they were to have a new building. There it stood alone for two years before the other buildings and homes made their way pulled on greased rails in 1897. It also became the family home on the second floor for many years and the new Katonah Post Office shared the frontage on The Parkway.

As a Realtor, I enjoy giving gift certificates from their store to new homeowners since it is a wonderful experience and they carry many useful and necessary items - with style!

KelloggsandLawrence.com

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

In addition to ice skating and playing on the ponds in Northern Westchester, the frozen reservoirs draw the fishermen back on the frozen water. In my travels looking at homes I am always amazed when I see ice fishing on the reservoirs. Ice fishing is popular at Amawalk, Cross River, Muscoot, and the Titicus Reservoirs. These reservoirs are all owned by New York City and a free ”NY City Public Access Permit” is required. If you’re wondering what’s for dinner it’s trout; it must be at least 12 inches in length before you take it home, and three is the limit!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

This quote was used by Guest Lecturer Philip Kunhardt at The Katonah Museum to either illustrate the words of Abraham Lincoln or Walt Whitman - I was taking notes so furiously that I lost track. What I do know is that it aptly fit Mr. Kunhardt.

Longtime area resident and noted Lincoln scholar and author/historian, Philip Kunhardt, spoke to a full house at The Katonah Museum of Art on Jan. 10. The lecture was to accompany the current exhibit, “Bold, Cautious, True: Walt Whitman and American Art of the Civil War Era.” The focus of the lecture was “The President and the Poet: The Converging Lives of Abraham Lincoln and Walt Whitman.”

Philip Kunhardt was the recipient along with his brother, Peter, in 2009 of The Order of Lincoln Award from The Lincoln Academy of Springfield, Illinois for their lifetime contribution to the understanding and appreciation of Abraham Lincoln. He has written several books on Lincoln for Smithsonian Magazine, received a grant from the U.S. State Department to speak to audiences in Russia about Abraham Lincoln and has directed conferences on Lincoln, including one at Bard College in March 2009.

He spoke of Lincoln’s and Whitman’s passion, their similarities and their differences. The strongest point was how deeply they admired each other. They also influenced each other. They were passionate about the other’s writings and causes. They never met. Yet there were times when they were in proximity of one another. During the years that Whitman acted as field nurse in the tent hospitals just outside of Washington, D.C. he used to post himself at a corner where he knew Lincoln’s carriage would pass on a daily basis. Over time they began to acknowledge each other with a bow. No one mourned Lincoln’s assassination more publicly than Walt Whitman.

Mr. Kunhardt completed his lecture with a portrait slide show of the two gentleman over the years. Whitman always appeared much older than Lincoln who was 10 years his senior. He had a more rapid decline after Lincoln’s death. Artist Thomas Eakins photographed him during this time and his decline was much in evidence during that visit to his Camden, New Jersey home. Yet he wrote, from that deep well of sorrow his two most famous poems - “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” and one known by schoolchildren for generations “O Captain, My Captain.”

History Class was never like this! Kudos once again to The Katonah Museum of Art for bringing such opportunities for an in depth education to the community. I have been rewarded and enriched with a much deeper understanding of the era, the sorrow and the strife that the country endured.

The exhibit continues with tours at 2:30 each day the Museum is open Tuesdays through Sunday until January 24th. Go to KatonahMuseum.org for more information.

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

Happy New Year! I believe in building blocks - do not think that your resolve for a better year had to end at the stroke of midnight! One New Year’s Resolution that is a great way to improve your outlook, daily performance, relieve tension and tune into your higher positive power is to sing! Sing away the last year! Or two!

As a Realtor for Houlihan Lawrence and a long time resident of the Bedford/Katonah/Mt. Kisco area I am concerned with helping families new to the area find what is of interest to them. It is always more than just finding the right house. Of course there are the schools and after-school activities, where to get the dog groomed, and sometimes there is someone that has to find a knitting shop. That is a snap!

Something almost stumped me once was when a family was being relocated by Jet Blue from Toronto, Canada to the New York area. The Mother enjoyed singing with the “Sweet Adeline’s” in Toronto. Due to the Magic of The Internet I found them! It was the early days of the Internet and there were very few websites, but I had to search within articles to look for leads. In this area they are known as “The Golden Apple Chorus.” My client was MORE than delighted.

The GOLDEN APPLE CHORUS was founded in April, 1969, as an a cappella ensemble of women singers in barbershop harmony. They are a local chapter of Sweet Adeline’s International. There are 600 groups worldwide. They rehearse weekly year round at the Hawthorne Reformed Church, 65 Broadway, Hawthorne, NY. Visitors are welcome anytime. Their selections cover a great deal of The Great American Songbook and are delightful. After a few sessions there is a gentle audition with a few of the members. Their Motto is “Real Women, Real Harmony, Real Fun!” I have been to their “Holiday Harmony Concerts” plus their annual performances. I know they have won regional awards and they have an incredible director, Dr. Anastasio (Stash) Rossi. I also found out that the head of the group and I both attended Our Lady of Victory Academy in Dobbs Ferry. Can’t keep a Victory girl down! Love those small world stories! Once my daughter is off to College I hope to join. The counterpart for men would be The Chordsmen in White Plains.

If you prefer classical choral music there is THE MASTER SINGERS OF WESTCHESTER. They were founded in 1981 and practice for 8 months of the year at The Fox Lane Middle School in Bedford. When it is concert time either at the Bedford Presbyterian Church or the Westmoreland Nature Sanctuary, they perform with an orchestra and professional soloists. Men and women may join without an audition. Just have a love of singing! They will help you with Baroque and Classical techniques at the rehearsals.

The singers live throughout Westchester and in nearby Connecticut. New singers are welcome. Recent Concerts performed Vivaldi’s “Magnificat,” Haydn’s “Missa Brevis in F Major” and a Manhattanville College Chorus favorite of mine: “Faure’s Requiem.”

I was not able to attend this December’s concert at the Bedford Presbyterian Church to hear Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols” due to the ice storm which blanketed the area. It was sad to miss that part of my Christmas Tradition.

I know it seems like a lot to do after a long day or even life - but it is refreshing, positive and you may also find that everything falls right into place after such an uplifting evening and may just be what the Doctor ordered! Due to their proximity to my home in Katonah how can I not join this wonderful ensemble?!

Plus the outfits for the performances for each group are to die for!

For great attention to all the details of finding your future home contact me. Happy New Year!

Golden Apple Chorus

Master Singers of Westchester

The Chordsmen

Posted By: Karen Benvin Ransom

For the past 30 years Roy Alleti of 50 Parsons Street Harrison, NY has decorated and created a Christmas fantasy land for all. With a wiggle and a wave all of Santa’s helpers are crowded together on the front lawn of his 1970s split-level. Two wooden soldiers stand at attention on either side of the house proudly overseeing the sea of Christmas characters and a menagerie of animal personalities.

Roy’s labor of love year after year is best experienced with a visit to this landmark. Grown-ups and children alike marvel open eyed at the Santa, reindeer and sled full of toys atop the roof of the house. Thousands of green and red flickering lights compete for attention and light up the night sky. Over-sized snowman, holiday carolers, Snoopy and his dog house and assorted elves all fill the lawn and even spill over to the neighbor’s yard (his Aunt’s house)!

Join us in welcoming the Holiday spirit to Harrison by making an official pilgrimage to Roy’s Christmas Land. The large mailbox which greets you as you approach is waiting for your list: that is if you’ve been good this year!

It matters not what faith one celebrates but only that your heart and spirit of sharing are re-kindled HERE.

For additional Westchester Christmas light displays go to mapmuse.com.

Posted By: Jan Vinikoor

The Leatherman’s Loop is my favorite running event of the year! I’m writing about it now because the sign up for the event is January 1, 2010 at 12:01 am! That’s two months earlier than last year and since there’s a limit of 900 entrants, runners should probably hold off on the bubbly until after logging in and registering online for the run. If you have never participated in the event, you’ll want to sign up to be put on the email list for the registration link.

The Leatherman’s Loop is a 10K run held the last Sunday in April which is April 25, 2010. It takes place at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY. If you’d like to see what the race is all about, check out this brief video.

My first experience on the trails occurred 3 years ago when a colleague who knew I liked to run suggested I sign up. I signed up but knew nothing about the run other than it was at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Was I in for a big surprise! It’s not your normal 10K run, as this one includes running through mud flats (sometimes up to your knees) and two river crossings (waist deep water) along with the hill climbs and trail running. I was apprehensive at first, but at the end of the race, it was a ton of fun and I’ve continued running every year.

There’s a Navajo/Celtic blessing they give each year before the run that accurately describes the feelings on race day!

Beauty before me as I run
Beauty behind me as I run
Beauty within me as I run
Beauty all around….

Be sure to sign up early, and I’ll look forward to seeing you at the Leatherman’s Loop!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Santa arrived right on time in Katonah New York on Saturday, November 28th! It was a beautiful sunny day but since it is always difficult for children to wait in line, the Bedford Fire Department had their truck in the parking lot with lights flashing and Firemen answering questions. After a visit at the fire truck, the Smith children climbed on Santa’s lap for photos and a short chat about their Christmas wish list. The youngest, Karissa, told Santa she wanted a candy cane and her wish was granted immediately.

The arrival of Santa is always special for the children of Katonah and surrounding areas sponsored by the wonderful Chamber of Commerce.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

As the temperatures start to drop in Northern Westchester it’s time to think about my feathered friends. Now that their food source has become scarce I have once again started filling the bird feeders (I tend not to feed birds during the summer as there are so many natural sources available).

If you are a bird lover and are looking for a great diversion from the holiday shopping and activities, consider participating in the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (also referred to as CBC), Saturday December 20. This event has been held for 55 years by the Bedford Audubon Society in Northern Westchester as contributors to the largest and oldest citizen science project in 50 States and 13 Canadian providences and territories.

The Northern Westchester bird count covers a 15 mile radius that includes forest, swamp and fields where a variety of birds can be found in their natural habitat. At the end of the day there is a potluck dinner and the bird counts are compiled. Last year 8 inches of snow fell the night before the count, which added to the enchantment of the outdoor adventure but also made it more difficult to count certain species. If you are interested in helping count the birds this year, contact John Askildsen: 845-677-3993 or e-mail him: askildsen@verizon.net.

If you would like to see more photos of birds at my feeders, you can see them on Flickr.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas